Coloration of textile materials



Feb. 3, 1942.

H. FLATT ETAL CQLORATION 0F TEXTILE MATERIALS s sheets-sheet 1 originan Filed June 14, 1938 Ill!! EQ IIIITHIIIIHIIIIIIIUHI I ll Feb. 3 1942.

` H, PLAT-r ErAL COLORATION 0F TEXTILE MATERIALS 3 sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed June 14, 19118 INVENTORS DUH b 3 MW ATTORNEYS' Feb. 3, 1 942. H. PLATT ETAL COLRATION 0F TEXTILE MATERIALS Original Filed June 14, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 WIM INVENTORS n PNY Patent-ed Feb. 3, 1942 Y assignors to Celanese Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware l Original application June 14, 1938, Serial No.

Divided and this application October 5, 1939, Serial N0. 258,046

` 3 Claims.

n This applicationis a division of our application S.`No. 213,585 filed June 14, 1938."

This invention relates to the dyeing of textile materials, especially those containing thermoplastic yarns or filaments, with dyes which have commercially rapid dye aiiinity for said yarns or laments at elevated temperatures.

An object of the invention is the application of dyes to materials containing organic derivative of .cellulose yarns or filaments. ,Another object of the invention is the method of dyeing textile materials containing organic derivative of cellulose yarns or filaments wherein the dye is applied uniformly, the dye is substantially exhausted fand the time required to bring the textile material to a good shade is reduced.` Another object of the invention is the dyeing of textile materials containing organic derivative of cellulose yarns or 'filaments with dyes having an affinity for the organic derivative of cellulose only at elevated temperatures. A still further object of our in v vention is the construction of a dye jig which will dye fabrics with high temperature dyes. Other objects of our invention will appear from the following detailed description and drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements in the respective views:

Fig. 1 is a side view, partially in section, of a dye lig constructed in accordance with this invention,

Fig. 2 is an end Fig. 1,

Engg. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken `on line 4 4 of Fig. 1,` v

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on lline 5 5 of Fig. 1,

' Fig. 6 is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing the loading of the dye iig, and

Fig. 'l is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing the unloading of the dye jig.

'I'he dyeing of fabrics containing Ithermoplastic yarns has been effected only by the use of special processes, ascompared to the dyeing of other view of the dye jig shown in to avoid creasingpf the fabric, the'fabric is dyed on devices which maintain the fabric in an open width or flattened condition, a common typeof such a device being a jig. Although the use ofa jig overcame the formation of creases, it limited the number of dyestuifs that could be employed. For instance, prior to this invention high temperature dyestuffs could not be used in a jig with commercial success. lBy high temperature" dyestuffs is-meant those dyestufis that have good affinity for the fabric only at temperatures of 70 C. or above. These dyestuifs, being sensitive to the temperature of the fabric, produced streaky ldyeings with shaded selvedges and ends due to the uneven cooling of the fabric .on the roll and the temperature differential between the center and edges of the fabric when on the'roll. We have now found that a full range of dyestufs, including the high temperature dyestuffs, may be applied on the jig to fabrics containing thermoplastic yarns by maintaining the temperature of both rolls of fabric at a temperature above the critical temperature of that component of the dyestuff requiring the higher temperature. This not only permitsA the use of a wider range of dyestuffs and effects uniform dyeing, but also greatly -decreases the time of dyeing, thus effecting greater production permachine and man hour.

By employing this invention a better penetration of the dyestufi into the filaments is obtained and an improved hand is obtained it being somewhat fuller than that obtained by prior methods. As stated above, the invention effects an economy in the dyeing process as there is an improved speed of dyeing. There is also effected a saving in dyestufl' and steam employed, the bath being readily exhausted of dyestuff and escape of steam is confined.

` throughout both rolls of fabric, which temperatypes of fabric, and by a careful selection of dyestuffs.- Fabrics containing thermoplastic yarns,

which are woven into twills. tailetas, etc., are nor' mally dyed in a jig as the batch process of dyeing or dyeing on the winch causes creases to be formed in the fabric. Moreover,l the yarns are somewhat softened due to the heat ofthe dye bath and/or reagents contained in the bath causing the creases to become permanent.- Inorder temperaturedyestufl's.

ture is high enough to effect a dyeing with high To accomplish this we construct a novel jig, also forming -a part of this invention, having an enclosed space above the tub in which the fabric is being treated. This invention is applicable to the dyeing of any fabric regardless of composition or structure. However it is especially applicable to closely woven tailetas and crepes that are made of or contain thermoplastic yarns. Any type of fabric mt'be treated in accordance with this invention. For example, the fabrics may be woven,

tion, a few degrees lower.

knitted, netted or knotted. The fabrics may be made entirely of thermoplastic yarns or thermoplastic yarns may be interwoven or knitted with yarns of other materials, such as cotton, silk,

wool, regenerated cellulose, etc. Even the yarns themselves may be made of a mixture of thermoplastic fibers or filaments and fibers or filaments of non-thermoplastic materials, and these yarns may be interwoven or knitted with yarns of thermoplastic material or yarns of non-thermoplastic material. In the practice prior to this invention it was found that the care to be given to fabric containing these thermoplastic yarns was directly proportional to the amount of thermoplastic yarns present in the fabric.

The thermoplastic material of the fabric mayy be any suitable thermoplastic material, such as the organic derivatives of cellulose which include the organic esters of cellulose and the cellulose ethers. Examples of the organic esters of .cellulose are. cellulose acetate, cellulose formate,

cellulose propionate and cellulose butyrate, while acetate. Also' a mixture of dyestuifs having afin accordance with this invention. With particular reference to Figs. l and 2 `the jig is constructed of a frame I having mounted therein a tub 2. At each side of the frame I is mounted -pairs of uprights 3 and 4. The uprights 3, of

which there is one on each side of the jig. support a shaft 5, upon which is mounted a shell i about which the fabric is rolled during the dyeing operation. Near the top of the uprights 3 there is provided an open top' bearing 1 for supporting a shaft 3 adapted to support a roll of fabric 3' during the loading of the jig. In the uprights 4, of which there is one on each side of the jig. is a shaft 9 which has mounted thereon a shell II about which the fabric is adapted to be rolled during the dyeing operation. The upper ends of the uprights 4 .are provided with bearings I2 adapted to support a square shaft I3. On one end of theshaft 9 at the outside of Ythe frame member is mounted a sprocket I4, while on a similar end of shaft I3 is also mounted a sprocket I5. By means of sprocket chain I6 the shaft 9 drives shaft .I3 for the purpose of rolling up and unloading the fabric I3! from the dig. Mounted in the tub are suitable guide rollers I1 for directing the fabric through the bath contained therein. Also mounted in the jig is a spreader arm I3 of `any suitable type having mounted thereon spreader-controlling rollers I9 which act through the spreader arm- I3 to regulate the tension on the fabric and the relative speeds ofthe shafts 5 and 9.

flnity for the same constituent may be employed to produce a desired shade. For instance, a blue and a red dyestufi', each having an aiiinity forcellulose acetate, may be employed. All or any of the dyestuils employed may be high temperature dyestuifs. f u

The dyeing may be performed by passing the fabric any number of times through the liquid in the jig. The liquid or dye bath in the jig may be a water emulsion or dispersion of the dyestuif with suitable solubilizing agents, dispersing agents and the like, such as Turkey red oil, dextrin, sulphonated fatty alcohols andthe like. The liquid'of vthe dye bath may also contain reagents having a softening or swelling action on the thermoplastic material contained in the fabric.. The dye bath may also contain reagents which act as stabilizers for either the dye or the thermoplastic material,such as morpholine compounds, benzyl ethyl aniline, etc., or finishes which are intended to remain on the fabric, such as oils, resins and vstearyl chloride. p

.The bath may be maintained at any suitable temperature at or below its boiling point, while the enclosed space above the bath, in which space is contained the bulk of the fabric being dyed, is maintained at the same temperature as the bath or, as necessary. in commercial produc- Although the bath may be maintained at any temperature, this invention is primarily concerned with the use of high temperature dyestuifs, in which case the temperature ofthe bath is preferably maintained at or above 70 C., and for some of the fast to acid fading high temperature dyestus the bath is maintained at or just below its boiling point,

while the rolls of fabric are maintained at orl v a jigconstructedL For driving the jig there is provided a suitable motor 2| which acts through a suitable transmission and speed reducing device 22 to rotate the shafts 5 and 9,. the relative speeds of which and their direction of travel are controlled by suitable mechanism 23 partly responsive to the spreader arm I3. y

At the outside of the'jigframe is a second frame. comprising four hollow cornerposts 24. These corner posts are shown in cross-section in ,Figs 3 and 4. These comer posts support an enclosure for the space immediately above the tub in which the fabric is rolled from shaft l to the shaft 3 and back as many times as it is necessary to effect the desired dyeing. This enclosure above the tub is constructed of movable ends 25 adapted to slide up and down'in a guideway 23 suitably attached to the corner posts. These ends may be formed of a suitable frame, as shown at 25' -in'l'igs. 2 and 3,- which frame contains glass panes 21 such that an operator may look in the end of the device to ascertain the'condition of the fabric. The movable ends 23 are held in a raised position by counterweights 23 attached thereto by means of cords 23. 'I'hese counterweights 23 are adapted to hang in the hollow corner posts. Below the movable end 23 is a movable skirt 3|, shown in crosssection in Fig. 4, which is adapted to be raised and lowered .in the guideway 32 attached to the corner posts 24. Also across each end is' a suita-l ble brace 33 tending to maintain the corner postsl seal at the four vertical corners ofthe-enclosure.

Along the top of both side members 35,fas more fully shown in Fig. 5, is a bracket 31 adapted to support two series of rollers 38 and 39. At the flanges 41 and 48 make a seal preventing the escape of steam.

Suitableg-pipe lines may be connected with the tub 2 for lfurnishing thereto hot and cold water, 4

etc., which being conventional have not been shown on the drawing. The tub 2 may also con tain steam pipes or other means 49 for heating up or maintaining the'bath in the tub 2 at an elevated temperature. Also, there may be provided above the tub 2 steam pipes or other means 5I for heating up'or maintaining the atmosphere of the enclosure above the bath at a given temperature. The heating elements 5I are not always necessary as the temperature of the bath soon raises the small amount of atmosphere to substantially its own'temperature. There is also provided means for lighting up the interior of the enclosure, such as marine lights 52 mounted in the side walls of the enclosure. To prevent condensate from preventing the operator from ascertaining the state of the fabric there is provided a manually operated or automatically operated wind shield wiper 53 at one or both ends of the enclosure.v

The operation of the device may best be de-v scribed with 'particular reference to Figs. 6 and 7, which, although somewhat diagrammatic, show the operation of the device. For loading-theqlig a roll of fabric 8' carried on a suitable shell is placed on the shaft 8 and the end of the fabric is brought around the shell contained on the shaft 3. The shaft 9 is then rotated pulling the fabric from the roll 8' and winding it on the shell and shaft 9. To accomplish this, however, the frame 25 containing, the panes 21 and also the skirt 3| on that end of the machine is lowered, while the two top sections and 48 are moved to the right as seen in Fig. 6. After the fabric has been placed on the shaft 9 it is then l threaded about spacer arm. Ilfguide roll I1 onto the shell supported by the shaft 5. The end of the enclosure at the left, as Vseen in Fig. 6, is thenraised and the top 48 is moved. to the left effecting a substantially sealed enclosure about the rolls of fabric which -now may be run through the dye bath contained in the tub 2. As the space enclosed is relatively small the heat contained in the` dye bath or-supplied thereto is usually sumcient to maintain the enclosed spacel within a relatively few degrees of the dye bath. For Ainstance, when the dye bath is maintained at or near C. the atmosphere contained in the en- 'closure is around 92 C. For the purpose of` unloading the jig the fabric is' wound on the shell supported by shaft 9, the right end as seen in Fig. '7 is then lowered and the top section 45 is moved to the left effecting a whole open corner. The fabric is then threaded onto a shell slipped on the shaft I3. By means of the drive chain I6 the fabric is pulled vfrom the enclosure and wound into a roll I3' upon the shell supported by the 'shaft I3. After winding fabric one end of the shaft I3 may be released 'from its bearingby means of the hinge bearing top 54 which permits the square shaft I3 to be raised sufficiently free of the bearing to slip `the shell containing the fabric therefrom.

It is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description ismerely given by way of il- 20- 1. A dye jig for use in dyeing fabrics, comprising a tub, a frame supporting said tub, an enclosure mounted over said tub, a plurality of upright members supported on said frame and ex' tending beyond the top of said enclosure, said upright members havingmeans thereon for supporting a roll of fabric being treated within said enclosure and separate means for supporting a roll of fabric outside of said enclosure. and said enclosure comprising means for permitting the feeding of'fabric to and from the interior of o said enclosure.

2. A dye-jig for use in dyeing fabrics, comprising a tub, a frame supporting said tub, an enclosure mounted over said tub, a plurality of upright members supported on said frame and extending beyond the top of said enclosure, said upright members having means thereon for sup-- porting a roll of fabric being treated within said enclosure and separate means for supporting a roll of fabric outside of said enclosure, and a divided top for said enclosure for permitting the feeding of fabric to and from the interior of said enclosure.

3. A dye jig for use in dyeing fabrics, comprising a tub, a frame vsupporting said tub, an Ienclosure'mounted over said tub, a. plurality of upright members supported on said frame and extending beyond the top of said enclosure, said upright members having means thereon for supporting a roll oi' fabric being treated within said enclosure and separate means'for supporting a roll of fabric outside of said enclosure, a divided top for said enclosure for permitting the feeding of fabric to and from the interior of said enclosure and means between the separate portions o 

